ALICIA Molik has made the "heartbreaking" decision ovenight to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a slower than hoped for recovery from a virus that affects her inner ear.

The South Australian was due to play in the tournament in Eastbourne before making a late decision to pull out.

"I tried in Birmingham and I tried here, and that's very much in my nature, but I can't compete at a level that is satisfactory," she said.

"It was a long shot, and the doctors were right and I was wrong.

"I tried my best to get myself ready, there is nothing more that I could have done, and there is relief in a way that I tried."

It was a cruel blow for Molik, who trained fanatically since the virus struck in April in an effort to get herself ready for Wimbledon.

"It's heartbreaking," Molik said.

"It's an event that I never would have dreamed of missing and here I am now, I'm going to miss it.

"Maybe I will be able to sit back on the couch with Mum and Dad and watch it.

"I never thought I would be watching it on the couch again."
Having suffered this disappointment, Molik was not prepared to put a timeframe on when she returns to tour other than noting this illness was one that normally lingered for about six months.

The virus is known as vestibular neuronitis and affects the middle and inner ear.

It affects balance and saps energy and can also affect vision - all symptoms that Molik noted today.

It first struck in April when she withdrew from Charleston, she subsequently missed clay court tournaments in Berlin, Rome and the French Open.

Molik played in Birmingham last week, receiving a bye to the second round where she lost to American Laura Granville.

ALICIA Molik has made the "heartbreaking" decision ovenight to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a slower than hoped for recovery from a virus that affects her inner ear.

The South Australian was due to play in the tournament in Eastbourne before making a late decision to pull out.

"I tried in Birmingham and I tried here, and that's very much in my nature, but I can't compete at a level that is satisfactory," she said.

"It was a long shot, and the doctors were right and I was wrong.

"I tried my best to get myself ready, there is nothing more that I could have done, and there is relief in a way that I tried."

It was a cruel blow for Molik, who trained fanatically since the virus struck in April in an effort to get herself ready for Wimbledon.

"It's heartbreaking," Molik said.

"It's an event that I never would have dreamed of missing and here I am now, I'm going to miss it.

"Maybe I will be able to sit back on the couch with Mum and Dad and watch it.

"I never thought I would be watching it on the couch again."
Having suffered this disappointment, Molik was not prepared to put a timeframe on when she returns to tour other than noting this illness was one that normally lingered for about six months.

The virus is known as vestibular neuronitis and affects the middle and inner ear.

It affects balance and saps energy and can also affect vision - all symptoms that Molik noted today.

It first struck in April when she withdrew from Charleston, she subsequently missed clay court tournaments in Berlin, Rome and the French Open.

Molik played in Birmingham last week, receiving a bye to the second round where she lost to American Laura Granville.

dont lose faith,alibaby!your fans are all with you!!your time will come!!

Why is it that the world never remembered the name of Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern-
schplenden-schlitter-crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangle-dongle-dungle-burstein-von-
knacker-thrasher-apple-banger-horowitz-ticolensic-grander-knotty-spelltinkle-grandlich-
grumblemeyer-spelterwasser-kurstlich-himbleeisen-bahnwagen-gutenabend-bitte-ein-
nürnburger-bratwustle-gerspurten-mitz-weimache-luber-hundsfut-gumberaber-shönedanker-
kalbsfleisch-mittler-aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm?

hope she gets better soon!
this virus sounds heaps nasty.
this time off will definatly hlep more then hinder her progression up the tennis world rankings. justine henin hardenne missed out the majority of the season cuase of illness and she has come back really strong and we all know alicia will have the exact same determination when her body is 100% again

There's an interview with Alicia on the abc site. You can hear her talk about the illness/French Open/Wimbledon preparations among other things(interview done before Birmingham). The interview's about 6 minutes long. Apparently there's no medication she can take for her illness

There's an interview with Alicia on the abc site. You can hear her talk about the illness/French Open/Wimbledon preparations among other things(interview done before Birmingham). The interview's about 6 minutes long. Apparently there's no medication she can take for her illness